Waugh critical of selectors' ambiguity

Steve Waugh has criticised the Australian cricket selectors for making Ricky Ponting captain for Friday's one-dayer and their handling of Brad Haddin, who returns to Sheffield Shield this week.

Haddin was again omitted from the ODI squad for the matches against Sri Lanka on Friday and India next Sunday and will instead play for New South Wales against Western Australia in the Shield match which begins on Friday.

Waugh, a former NSW and ODI team-mate of Haddin, suggests the National Selection Panel has hid behind the excuse of 'resting' the wicketkeeper.

"I was surprised when they said he was rested and he said he was dropped. There were mixed messages there," Waugh said.

"If he's rested, why doesn't he come back in and be the captain?

"He's vice-captain of the Test side so there was an opportunity for Brad to be captain of the one-day team.

"Obviously he is having an enforced rest. I'm not sure what it is.

"It's a bit confusing and it'd be good for someone to clear it up."

Waugh was equally bemused that David Warner, as the nominal ODI vice-captain in the absence of Shane Watson, did not handle the reins for Friday's match.

"Ricky will do it blindfolded but the future is probably Dave Warner so I'm surprised they didn't go to Warner and go to the future," Waugh said.

"It's only a temporary thing (but) you put Dave Warner in there as vice-captain (so) I assume they think he is leadership material.

"If he's vice-captain why can't he captain the side as well?"

"Maybe they think Dave's not quite ready but why is he vice-captain?"

"It doesn't make sense to me."

Shane Watson will also play in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield team to play WA, as he continues his recovery from the calf injury that has kept him from national selection so far this summer.

Watson replaces veteran Simon Katich in the team, with the former Test batsman still suffering residual concussion symptoms after being struck on the head while batting against Tasmania last week.